Combination stool and stepladder



Sept;Y .1, 1,931. Q T HYATT 1,821,517 f COMBINATION STOOL AND STEPLA-DDER Filed March 1l, 1930 Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES- CHARLEY T. HYATT, OF TULSA, KLAHOMA COMBINATION STQOL AND STEPLADER Application filed March 11, 1930. Serial No. 435,003.

This invention relates to improvements in eralviews, the numeral 1 indicates the top stools and pertains particularly to an iinproved combination stool and stepladder.

The primary object of the present inven- 5 tion is to provide in combination with a kitchen stool, a device whereby the stool may be readily converted into a three step stepladder, the top of the stool forming the third or top step.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with a kitchenstool an attachment comprising a fixed body designed to be secured to the stool beneath the top of the same and a pair of steps hingedly attached thereto and having pivotally connecting the same at their outer edges supporting legs Which, with the steps, may be folded into inoperative position against. the said vbody and beneath the stool top.`

lStill another object-of the invention is to provide a structure of the above described character wherein the steps may be effectively braced when they are in down or operative position so that undersirable movement of the stool and the steps is prevented.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing ofthe drawings but may be changed or inodied so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the vinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

1n the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a kitchen stool equipped with the device embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a modified form of step showing the method of running the supporting rod therefor through the body thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout thesevof a kitchen stool of ordinary type which top may be formed of wood and is supported upon the four legs 2 which extend downwardly therefrom in divergent relation. r-[nter-'v mediate their ends the four legs of the stool are bracedby the cross bars 3 which at the points of intersectionV are secured together by a suitable bolt and nut 4.

Associated with the stool is an elongated bar 5 which, when constructed of metal as is preferable, is of channel formation as shown in Figure 2, there being the main body portion 6 and the longitudinal side iianges 7, the body portion 6 at the upper end being extended and turned to project at a Suitable angle as indicated at Sfor contact with the under face of the stool top 1 to whichit is attached by a screw 9 or other suitable means.

This angle portion 8 `of' the body of the? channel bar is so disposed with respect to the length of the' bar as to arrange'the bar at the proper degree of inclination under the stool to maintain certain other elements, hereinafter described, in the proper position. The free edges of the flanges 5 are provided at suitable points with. inwardly projecting fins 10 which rest upon the tops of the adjacent stool leg bracing bars 3 andsecured againstthe underside of these bars by thevbolt `v 4 which holds them together, is a brace tongue 11 which, as shown in Figurel, is struck longitudinally from the body portion 5 of ythe channel bar and is bent inwardly in the manner shown to cooperate with the fins` for the maintenance of the bar in the desired position.

Adjacent the lower end of the bar 5 and at a point substantially midway between Vthe Yends thereof the body portion G has struckvv ytherefrom the pairs of ears shown each of which is indicated by the'numeral 12. Between the lower pair of the ears 12 there is disposed one end of a step body 13 which has a dependingsurrounding flange 14 through which the ends of a pivot bar 15 rpasses,'this bar extending beneath the body of the step and having its ends extended through the vadjacent ears 12'as shown in Figure 1. Between the upper` pair of the ears 12 there 1s y means for coupling the step to the adjacentV ears also act as braces when the step is iny positioned a step 16 which, at its inner end, is provided with the depending brace flanges 17 which are disposed between the adjacent ears and which have the pivot pin 18 eX- tended therethrough and through the adjacent ears for maintaining the step in position. These flanges 17 in addition to providing a operative position as the.V abutqthe adjacent outer face of the body o the channel bar 5 in the manner shown in Figure 1. Y l

Across its outer edge 'and eteiided along each side edge at the outer part of thelstep is a flange 19. Between these side portions of the flange 19 there is arranged the upper ends of a pair of step supporting legs 2O which are of channel construction as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2,-each leg having its upper end positioned against the Ainner side of one side flange of the step. A connecting pivot bar 21 passes through the side portions oi the flange 19 and the upper ends of the legs 20 thus securing the legs to the flange, the legs being prevented from moving inwardly on the bar 21 by cotter pins .Q2 which are passed through the bar one adjacent each leg as shown in Figure 2.

The legs S20 extend downwardly across the outer face of the flange 14 formed about the f lower step 18, la pivot bar 23 being passed through the legs at vthe points where they cross the flange and through the flange in the manner shown in Figure 1, to pivotally 'secure the legs to this first or lower step.

From the description thus far given it will be readily seen that by lifting the legs 2O the steps 13 and 16 will be swung upwardly and inwardly on their supporting bars 15 and 18 until they position against the outer face of the channel bar 5. In order to maintain the steps in this raised position-there is secured to the upper end of the baro a spring 24 which is formed of band or ribbon material and which projectsoutwardly from the supporting bar curving downwardly in the manner shown so that the outer edge of the upper step must be forced therebeneath when the step is raised to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1.

In order to permit the legs 20 of the device to move into the proper position beneath the top 1 of the stool the edges of the braces 3 nearest these legs are recessed or cut` away as indicated at 25 and when the steps are raised the legs Q0 position iii these recesses.

In Figure 3 there is shown the method eniployed for connecting a wooden step 26 with the legs 27, which method lconsists in extending the bar 28 through thelegs and transversely through the body of the step in the manner shown so that when the step' is in raised posit-ion the supporting bar 28 will be completely hidden from view;

jacent face' oftliesupporting bar, and support-ing legspivotally attached to and connecting said steps 'and adapted to be moved to supported position adjacent the face of said supporting bar, with the steps.

2; In a device of the character described, the combination with a structure having 'a top and support-ing legs', or" an elongated sup-` porting bai' secured at one Vend to the under- Y side of said top and disposed at a downward and outward inclination therefrom, a pair of steps hingedly connected at longitudinally spaced points on said elongatedvbar and adapted to swing from a substantially horizontal position to a position against the adjacent face of the supporting bar, supporting legs pivotally attached to and connecting said steps and adapted to be moved to 'supported position adjacent the :tace of said supporting bar, with the steps, and a spring tongue carried by and projecting from said supporting bar for frictional engagement over the edge of a step when the steps are raised to maintain the saine in inoperative A position.

8. The combination with a stool having a top, supporting legs and connecting brace members between said legs, of a bar connected at one end to the under face of said top and depending therefrom, means for connecting the bar with said brace members, a step pivotally secured to the bar at a point intermediate its ends and adapted to swing from a. horizontal operative position to a position against the adjacent face of the bar,

and supporting legs for said step having pivotal connection with the saine at the edge remote from the supporting bar, one a`djacent each side thereof and adapted to swing upwardly with the step to position in close proximity to the said supporting bar.

4. The combination with a stool having a top, supporting legs andconnecting brace members between said legs, of a bar c'o1`inected at one end to the under face of said top and depending therefrom, means for connecting the bar with said brace members, a step pivotally secured tothe bar at a point intermediate its ends and adapted to swing from a horizontal operative position to a position against the adjacent face of the bar, and supporting legs for said step having pivotal connection with the same at the edge remote from the supporting bar, one adja cent each side thereof and adapted to swing upwardly with the step to position in close proximity to the said supporting bar, saidv spread legs, of a bar depending from the' top of the stool and disposed at a downward and outward inclination, a pair of ears carried by the bar and projecting in spaced relation therefrom, a step disposed between and pivotally attached to said ears, and a pair of supporting legs for and having the step pivotally secured thereto, said step and legs when in raised inoperative position being substantially parallel with the outer face of the inclined bar.

6. The combination with a stool having spread legs, of a bar depending from the top of the stool and disposed at a downward and outward inclination, a pair of ears carried by the bar and projecting in spaced relation therefrom, a step disposed between and pivotally attached to said ears, a pair of supporting legs for and having the step pivotally ses cured thereto, said step and legs when in raised inoperative position being substantially parallel with the outer face of the inclined bar, and a stop carried by the step and adapted to abut the face of the bar when the step is lowered, to assist in maintaining the step in operative horizontal position.

7 The combination with a stool having a top, supporting legs and crossed brace members between said legs, of a bar of channel cross-section having a tongue projecting from one end thereof and adapted to be secured to the unders'de of the stool top, the flanges of the bar extending across an angle formed by and between the crossed brace members and engaging the members, a spur formed integral with each flange of the channel bar and engagingl the top surface of an adjacent member, a brace tongue struck rearwardly from the channel bar and engaging the faces of the crossed members and secured thereto, a step hingedly attached lto said bar, and supporting legs for said step having pivotal connection therewith, said legs and said step being adapted to be swung upwardly and inwardly to inoperative position against the face of the bar.

8. The combination with a stool having a top, supporting legs and crossed brace members between said legs, of a bar of channel cross-section secured at one end to the underface of the top and extending downwardly7 and outwardly at an inclination across the brace members, a pair of ears struck out from said bar substantially midway between the ends thereof, a second pair of ears struck out from the bar adjacent the lower end thereof,

a pairof steps eachA having a broad outer end :and la relatively vnarrow inner 1 end and each havingcits inner end disposed betweenV a pair of ears, a depending flange formed integral vwith each of said steps `and arranged betweenv the adjacent ears,-azpivotal connection be!` tween the fianges of the steps and the adjacent ears, =a depending flange ateach side of the upper one of saidsteps Vadjacent the front end thereof, and a pair of leg members having the lower one of the steps'disposed there-v between'andpivotally attached thereto and each having its upper end disposed against the inner face of a flange adjacent the front end of the top step and pivotally secured` thereto, the first mentioned flanges of the' steps being formed to providel stops for contact with the face of the bar when the steps are in lowered operative position.

9. The combination with a stool having a top, supporting legs and crossed brace members between said legs, of a bar of channel cross-sectional design having a tongue proj ecting from one end thereof and adapted to be secured to the underside of the stool topl and further having intermediate its ends anY inwardly extending member arranged to extend across the crossed portions of the brace members for attachment thereto to cooperate with the tongue in maintaining the bar intl, position under the stool top, a pair of ears struck out of the body of said channel bar at a point substantially midway between its ends, a second pair of ears struck out of the channel body at a point adjacent its lowen end, a pair of steps each pivotally mounted between a pair of ears, and a pair of supporting legs having the lower one of said steps disposed therebetween and pivotally secured thereto and having the upper one of said steps pivotally secured to the upper ends thereof, said supporting legs and said steps being adapted to swing upwardly to inoperative position against the outer face of said channel bar.

10. The combination with a stool having a top, supporting legs and crossed brace members between said legs, of a bar of channel cross-sectional design and having a tongue projecting from one end thereof and adaptedl to be secured to the vunderside of the stool second pair of ears struck out of the channell body at a point adjacent its lower end, a pair of steps each pivotally mounted between a pair of ears, a pair of supporting legs having the lower one of said steps disposedtherebetween and pivotally secured thereto and having the upper one of sd steps pi'fotaly secured to the' upper ends thereof, said supporting legs and said stepsbeng fidapted to swing upwardly to inoperative position Y again-St the outer' face of said channel bar,

und a spring member carried by said channel bar-adjacent its upper end adapted to engage the upper one of said Stepsto maintain the steps in hoperative position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my siglature.y v v @HARLEY T. HYATT.v 

